Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Saudi Arabia To Build The First Nuclear Power Station In The Gulf States By. Gregory White Source: BusinessInsider.com

Saudi Arabia To Build The First Nuclear Power Station
In The Gulf States

The government of Saudi Arabia has announced a new section of its capital Riyadh is set to be powered solely by nuclear energy. This will be the first nuclear power plant in the Gulf states, and the first in the broader

The government of Saudi Arabia has announced a new section of its capital Riyadh is set to be powered solely by nuclear energy. This will be the first nuclear power plant in the Gulf states, and the first in the broader Middle East.
If the U.S. government backs Saudi Arabia's bid to build a reactor, they'll be creating the potential for nuclear growth within the GCC, or Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman.

All of those states are also reviewing the possibility of producing nuclear fuel, so they can export more oil and gas to foreign markets.

The GCC is largely allied with the United States and their key security issue is Iran's rise in power across the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. must be concerned that by allowing oil-rich ally Saudi Arabia to invest in nuclear technology, it will be further escalating its conflict with Iran.

The talk of a double standard in terms of peaceful nuclear energy in the Middle East will have further credence if the U.S. allows a Gulf state to make the move to nuclear.

The main issue is the non-proliferation treaty. While most of the states in question have joined, Israel remains outside the scope of the treaty and Iran is defiant of the precepts it signed.

Peaceful nuclear power could be the straw that breaks the region's geopolitical back.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Beijing Defends Buildup of Its Nuclear Arsenal

China Needs Weapons to Deter Nuclear Attack, Military Paper Says -- Wall Street Journal
Beijing Defends Buildup of Its Nuclear Arsenal

SHANGHAI—China needs weapons capable of retaliating against any nuclear attack on the country, according to a commentary in the nation's main military newspaper that sought to explain the strategic thinking behind Beijing's push to modernize its atomic arsenal.

The commentary, published Thursday in the official Liberation Army Daily, also reiterated China's longstanding stated policy that it "will never be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances."

Read more ....

More News On China's Nuclear Policy Statement

China military paper spells out nuclear arms stance -- Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63L0PR20100422


China Details Nuclear Strategy -- Global Security Newswire
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100422_9457.php


China Publishes Own Nuclear Doctrine -- Hamsayeh.net
http://www.hamsayeh.net/hamsayehnet_iran-international%20news1167.htm

Saudis Begin Racing Iran for a Nuke from DEBKAfile

Saudis Begin Racing Iran for a Nuke
from DEBKAfile

Saudi nuclear program is coordinated with and assisted by Washington on the understanding that the oil kingdom will be the sole Sunni Muslim nuclear power in the Middle East and rival to Iran.

NATO begins debating future of U.S. tactical nukes in Europe from Nukes & Spooks by Jonathan Landay

NATO begins debating future of U.S. tactical nukes in Europe
from Nukes & Spooks by Jonathan Landay

NATO foreign ministers began debating today in Tallinn, Estonia, the future of the estimated 240 tactical nuclear weapons that the United States maintains in Europe nearly 20 years after the end of the Cold War.

Germany is leading a handful of the 28 NATO members in calling for the removal of the aircraft-delivered B-61 gravity bombs from the five European countries where they are deployed, believing that they are no longer required for the defense of Europe. But that argument is unlikely to prevail.
The Obama administration and some other NATO governments now value the weapons more for their political utility than their military worth, seeing them as instruments for maintaining unity within an alliance that is increasingly at odds over a wealth of issues, ranging from Afghanistan to defense spending levels.

The U.S. tactical nukes "combined with NATO's unique nuclear sharing arrangements under which non-nuclear members participate in nuclear planning and possess specifically configured aircraft capable of delivering nuclear weapons, contribute to Alliance cohesion and provide reassurance to allies and partners who feel exposed to regional threats," says the administration's new Nuclear Posture Review.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen asserted at a news conference that the U.S. nukes are also required "as long as there are rogue regimes or terrorist groupings that may pose a nuclear threat to us."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was expected to tell her NATO colleagues that the future of the weapons should be decided as part of a new NATO doctrine, known as the New Strategic Concept, that is to be unveiled when NATO heads of state gather in November in Lisbon, Portugal.

Finally, the administration appears unwilling to give up bargaining chips it could use in negotiations it wants to hold with Moscow on eliminating the vastly numerically superior arsenal of short-range tactical nuclear weapons that Russia still maintains.

The Next Arms-Control Agreement Joe Ralston et al., The Washington Times


The Next Arms-Control Agreement
Joe Ralston et al., The Washington Times

With the new START treaty and the Nuclear Posture Review accomplished, the Obama administration has an enormous opportunity to capitalize on its momentum. It should propose that NATO negotiate with Moscow to reduce the number of short-range nuclear weapons in Europe.
Full Article

NATO to Debate Future of Nuclear Arms in Europe

NATO to Debate Future of Nuclear Arms in Europe


NATO ministers meeting in Estonia on Thursday will debate the future of battlefield nuclear weapons and relations with Russia after Washington and Moscow agreed a major arms reduction treaty this month.
Full Article

Foreign Ministry Issues Memorandum on N-Issue Korean Central News Agency


Foreign Ministry Issues Memorandum on N-Issue
Korean Central News Agency

The DPRK Foreign Ministry, in a memorandum issued on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday, underscored the need to get a correct understanding of how nuclearization started on the peninsula and what was the root cause of it if a solution to the denuclearization of the peninsula is to be found with proper understanding of its essence.
Full Article

Iran seeks to persuade Security Council not to back tough nuclear sanctions



Iran seeks to persuade Security Council not to back tough nuclear sanctions

U.S. Allies and the Politics of Abolishing Nuclear Weapons

U.S. Allies and the Politics of Abolishing Nuclear Weapons
James M. Acton, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
NATOIn Chapter 2 of Shared Responsibilities for Nuclear Disarmament: A Global Debate, an Occasional Paper by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, James Acton responds to Scott Sagan's argument that nuclear disarmament must become a shared responsibility by identifying the role that non-nuclear-weapon state allies of the United States can play. Specifically, he urges these states to engage with the United States on doctrine and with the NPT Review Conference on deterrence.
Full Article

2 Finnish companies secure nuclear-plant construction permits

2 Finnish companies secure nuclear-plant construction permits
Finland's government intends to award permits to two of three bidders for the construction of nuclear plants as the country seeks to curb reliance on Russian energy and limit carbon emissions. "The decision provides Finnish industry electricity at an affordable cost," Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen said. Bloomberg BusinessWeek

India to commission first nuclear plant in 2015

India to commission first nuclear plant in 2015
Nuclear Power Corp. of India expects its first 700-megawatt Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project in Gujarat to be operational in 2015. Excavation of the reactor's site is about 70% finished, and the first "pour of concrete" will be done in June, an official said. Hindustan Times (India)/Press Trust of India

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/mu...le1-534087.aspx
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/vBAcdaAvzsAUm...format=standard

Earth Day 2010 marks significant "nuclear achievements" Good Nuclear In, Bad Nuclear Out -- Cause for Celebration on 40th Earth Day

Good Nuclear In, Bad Nuclear Out -- Cause for Celebration on 40th Earth Day

Earth Day 2010 marks significant "nuclear achievements"
Patrick Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace, writes that the 40th anniversary of Earth Day coincides with a period of remarkable progress toward clean nuclear energy and world peace. "In simple terms, every nuclear plant can be viewed as two fewer large coal-fired generators. That makes for large reductions in air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions," he writes. "I hope people recognize that we are moving in a positive direction by encouraging the peaceful use of nuclear technology and working to reduce the threat of nuclear war and nuclear terrorism. These twin accomplishments make 2010 the most significant year in decades of nuclear achievements." The Huffington Post

Critics Challenge Safety of New Reactor Design By MATTHEW L. WALD Westinghouse stands by safety of AP 1000 reactor design

Critics Challenge Safety of New Reactor Design
By MATTHEW L. WALD


Westinghouse stands by safety of AP 1000 reactor design
Westinghouse spokesman Vaughn Gilbert is rebutting safety claims regarding the Westinghouse AP 1000 reactor design, stating that leaks are highly improbable, as the new reactors have far thicker walls. Arnie Gundersen, a nuclear engineer, recently filed a report questioning the dome structure of the design. The New York Times/Green blog

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/critics-challenge-safety-of-new-nuclear-reactor-design/

Business of Green Edging Back to Nuclear Power

Business of Green
Edging Back to Nuclear Power
Longtime critics are giving their support to nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is slowly gaining support from some longtime critics including Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and John Hall, D-N.Y. Markey, who has been an decades-long opponent of the industry, said he could be convinced to support nuclear power if it gets the Senate to approve the climate-change bill. Hall, who was part of concerts to oppose nuclear power, has voted to assist the sector in measures that included funding for renewable energy. The New York Times (free registration)

Demand for new jobs in U.S. nuclear sector is growing

Demand for new jobs in U.S. nuclear sector is growing
A combination of factors are spurring demand for a new generation of workers in the U.S. nuclear energy industry. Federal regulators are reviewing 17 bids from companies seeking to build reactors, which would need a fresh batch of staffers who are skilled in modern technology. The industry also needs to hire thousands of employees for the country's existing plants to replace more than 21,000 skilled workers who will be eligible for retirement within five years, said Carol Berrigan, a senior Nuclear Energy Institute staff member. The New York Times (free registration)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/business...1&src=busln

The Kremlin Just Cut A Killer Pipeline Deal With Ukraine (OGZPY)from Green Sheet by John Helmer(This is a guest post from Dances With Bears.)

The Kremlin Just Cut A Killer Pipeline Deal With Ukraine (OGZPY)from Green Sheet by John Helmer(This is a guest post from Dances With Bears.)

A gas supply agreement signed yesterday by the presidents of Russia and Ukraine dramatically changes the prospects for both oil and gas shipment across and under the Black Sea; extends Russia's Black Sea Fleet lease of the Sevastopol base by another 25 years; and costs Gazprom nothing.

The terms of the deal promise to change the future investment prospects for the Ukrainian ports of Odessa and Yuzhny at the expense of Burgas, Bulgaria. Constanta , Romania, will also gain at Burgas's expense if the new agreement changes the routing for Gazprom's South Stream gas pipeline across the Turkish and Bulgarian seabeds, to permit the shorter seabed route via Ukraine and Romania.

According to the press announcements so far, Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Victor Yanukovych have agreed to a 30% discount price for 30 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to be delivered to Ukraine this year, and 40 bcm to be delivered annually from next year to 2019. The effective purchase price for Kiev will be about $230 per thousand cm, well below the $334 asking price from Gazprom, which has been on the table since the start of this year. The export volumes to Ukraine for this year have been lifted from 33.75 bcm, agreed with Naftogaz-Ukraine last November, to 36.5 bcm; the discount will cover the first 30 bcm sent to Ukraine, and the first 40 bcm thereafter.

The savings, estimated at $40 billion ($4 billion per annum) over the term of the agreement, will be applied to the extension of the Sevastopol naval facility lease. But Gazprom will not lose this amount from its revenue stream. Instead, a zero export duty for Gazprom deliveries to Ukraine will be introduced, which is equivalent to the 30% discount in pricing. As a result, the Russian government will receive less tax – about $3 billion less per annum, according to one bank estimate.

By removing the risk of Ukraine-related disruptions of gas flows and Gazprom's sales revenues to Europe, the agreement relaxes a costly drag on Gazprom's share price and market value. The company's current market capitalization is $141 billion, down 6% in the year to date, trailing well behind Russia's other oil and gas companies, and behind the RTS stock market index as a whole.

A Ukrainian offer is also on the table for Gazprom to take equity in Ukraine's gas distribution and pipeline system to further reduce the likelihood of supply cutoffs for European consumers in future.

Read more at Dances With Bears -->

A Global Tsunami from Nouriel Roubini's Global EconoMonitor by Nouriel Roubini, Camilla Webster and Shai Baite

A Global Tsunami from Nouriel Roubini's Global EconoMonitor by Nouriel Roubini, Camilla Webster and Shai Baite

An Israeli military strike in Iran would have an earthquake-like impact on today's fragile global economy, and the potential for conflict is not entirely remote.

"Israel cannot live with a reality of a nuclear Iran threat," says Israel's Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom. On the other hand, Israel doesn't refer explicitly to a possibility of attack. This ambiguity notwithstanding, Shalom states that Iran, which in his view continues its efforts to obtain nuclear capabilities, is "taking advantage of the weakness of the international community and of the ongoing struggle over hegemony in the Middle East between the United States [on one hand, and] Russia and China [on the other]."

http://www.roubini.com/roubini-monitor/258...t=Google+Reader



http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/for...howtopic=118507

What Will A Cyber War Look Like?

What Will A Cyber War Look Like?

http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-will-cyber-war-look-like.html

Iran's Growing Military And Missile Forces

Iran's Growing Military And Missile Forces

http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2010/04/irans-growing-military-and-missile.html

Why Conventionally Armed ICBMs Are Dangerous

# Why Conventionally Armed ICBMs Are Dangerous

http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-conventionally-armed-icbms-are.html

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Slow Emergence Of A Joint NATO - Russia Missile Shield NATO And Russia Edge Warily Toward A Joint Missile Defense Shield -- Deutsche Welle

The Slow Emergence Of A Joint NATO - Russia Missile Shield NATO And Russia Edge Warily Toward A Joint Missile Defense Shield -- Deutsche Welle

NATO Secretary General Anders Rasmussen has appealed for a joint missile defense shield with Russia to cover Europe and offer protection from a possible terror attack. But analysts are still cautious about its prospects.

At a press conference on Monday, NATO Secretary General Anders Rasmussen spoke about what he believed was the most serious security threat faced by Europe. "There is a growing missile threat, including from Iran," he said. "And the politicians have a responsibility to protect the population." Europe must "take its share in the joint protection from missile attacks."

Read more ....
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5482780,00.html

More News On Missile Defense in Europe

Russia must have role in Europe-based missile defence system, says Nato chief -- The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/18/nato-defence-talks


NATO wants to consult Russia on missile defense -- Voice of Russia
http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/04/20/6658709.html



NATO Head to Call For Russian Role in Missile Shield -- Global Security Newswire
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100419_3595.php


What the Russian papers say -- RIA Novosti
http://en.rian.ru/papers/20100419/158650784.html

Get ready to live with nuclear Iran -- H.D.S. Greenway, Boston.com

Get ready to live with nuclear Iran -- H.D.S. Greenway, Boston.com
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editoria...h_nuclear_iran/


Setting the trap on Iran -- David Ignatius, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...0042004292.html


The astonishing reach of the Iranian military -- Rick Moran, American Thinker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/0...h_of_the_i.html

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/for...p;#entry1101897

Iran's Cunning Power Play: They Will Get A Nuke Not With A Bang, But With A Whimper -- Robert Baer, New York Daily News

Iran's Cunning Power Play: They Will Get A Nuke Not With A Bang, But With A Whimper -- Robert Baer, New York Daily News

The Obama administration is finally coming around to the alarming conclusion it has no idea what to do about Iran's nuclear bomb. The admission comes in the guise of a just-revealed top-secret memorandum sent by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the White House in January, which, according to press leaks, made the case that the U.S. possesses no long-term, effective policy to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. Although a lot of people arrived at the same conclusion a long time ago, it's the first time it has been given an official imprimatur at this high of a level.

Read more ....
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/0..._a_whimper.html


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/for...p;#entry1101892

Analysts Say N. Korea Hinting of 3rd Nuke Test - Associated Press

Analysts Say N. Korea Hinting of 3rd Nuke Test - Associated Press

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/04/21...1&ref=world


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101505&#entry1101505

Israel Weighs Merits of Solo Attack on Iran Officials, Seeing Impending Policy Split With U.S., Debate Prospect of a Military Strike Without Washington's Consent

Israel Weighs Merits of Solo Attack on Iran
Officials, Seeing Impending Policy Split With U.S., Debate Prospect of a Military Strike Without Washington's Consent
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703757504575194223689622084.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_world

US Official: Iran Military Strike 'Off The Table' -- Washington Post/AP

US Official: Iran Military Strike 'Off The Table' -- Washington Post/AP

SINGAPORE -- The U.S. has ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear program any time soon, hoping instead negotiations and United Nations sanctions will prevent the Middle East nation from developing nuclear weapons, a top U.S. defense department official said Wednesday.

"Military force is an option of last resort," Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy said during a press briefing in Singapore. "It's off the table in the near term."

Read more ....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/21/AR2010042101343.html

Iran's Disarmament Conference: The Power of Logic by Eric Walberg

Iran's Disarmament Conference: The Power of Logic
by Eric Walberg / April 20th, 2010 (3)

The logic of power is still overriding the power of logic, quipped the head of Iran's Atomic Organisation Ali Salehi at the "Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapons for None" disarmament conference in Tehran last weekend. He was referring to US foreign policy, in particular, nuclear. Taking this elegant formulation a step further, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says nuclear-armed states such as the United States should be removed entirely from the IAEA and its Board of Governors. Iran's president called for the formation of a new international body to oversee nuclear disarmament, or at least the reinvigoration of the Non-proliferation Treaty …

(Full article …)

http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/04/irans-di...power-of-logic/

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101485&#entry1101485

Russia open for Asian nuclear sales

Russia open for
Asian nuclear sales
Russia is attracting more customers interested in buying its nuclear power technology. While some, such as India, have clear requirements, the needs of others, such as Vietnam, are less obvious. - Stephen Blank
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/LD22Ag01.html


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101475&#entry1101475

Russia proceeds with construction of floating nuclear plant Nuclear power: Alliances strengthen atomic plan

Russia proceeds with construction of floating nuclear plant

Nuclear power: Alliances strengthen atomic plan

Construction of floating NPP goes as planned
Russia is continuing work on its first floating nuclear power plant, which will supply electricity to remote regions of the Arctic. The facility is being protected against hull corrosion, according to Motorship's website. Such a plant can run for 40 years and need refueling only once every decade. Financial Times (tiered subscription model) (4/13) , BarentsObserver.com (Norway)

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7023ea86-4697-11...144feab49a.html

http://www.barentsobserver.com/constructio...471-116321.html

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101466&#entry1101466

Climate legislation is "doable" this year, White House official says

Climate legislation is "doable" this year, White House official says
Congressional action on climate legislation is "doable" this year because lawmakers understand the urgency of developing a clean-energy policy, said Carol Browner, the Obama administration's top energy adviser. A compromise climate bill that would apply different greenhouse-gas curbing mechanisms for different sectors is expected to be unveiled next Monday by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. The measure also seeks to expand domestic output of nuclear power, oil and natural gas. Yahoo!/The Associated Press

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100420/ap_on_...e_bill_congress


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101465&#entry1101465

U.S. eyes involvement in Saudi's nuclear energy city

U.S. eyes involvement in Saudi's nuclear energy city
The U.S. is interested in taking part of some of the projects planned for the King Abdullah Nuclear and Renewable Energy City in Saudi Arabia, said former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen. The planned energy city is an exciting venture, Cohen said, adding that the technology could benefit countries in the region. Arab News (Saudi Arabia)

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article45429.ece


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101463&#entry1101463

1,200 nuclear plants projected worldwide by 2030

1,200 nuclear plants projected worldwide by 2030
The number of nuclear plants worldwide is projected to burgeon from 446 to 1,200 by 2030, reflecting the growing popularity of nuclear power as a clean-energy source, said Gary Gates, executive board chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute. South Korea and India have proposed building factories that will manufacture nuclear reactors at unprecedented speeds, he said, aiming for an expanding world market. "There are 65 countries in the world that have never had a reactor that have proposals out to get them," Gates said. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.)

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100420/MONE...making-comeback


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101462&#entry1101462

BRIC, IBSA Nations Not Keen on Iran Sanctions Siddharth Varadarajan,

BRIC, IBSA Nations Not Keen on Iran Sanctions Siddharth Varadarajan,

The Hindu As the United States and its western allies press ahead with efforts to impose tough penalties on Iran, leaders and officials from two major international groupings – BRIC and IBSA – meeting in Brasilia this week took a contrary view, agreeing that new sanctions would not help resolve the nuclear issue.
Full Article

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/18/stories/2010041863681200.htm


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101460&#entry1101460

Iran Picks Site for New Enrichment Facility Associated Press

Iran Picks Site for New Enrichment Facility Associated Press

A senior adviser said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has approved the location for a new uranium enrichment facility Iran plans to begin building over the next year.
Full Article

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...lpRujwD9F655AG0


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420&gopid=1101458&#entry1101458

Arms Treaty Shouldn't Constrain U.S. Missile Defenses Walter Pincus, The Washington Post

Arms Treaty Shouldn't Constrain U.S. Missile Defenses Walter Pincus, The Washington Post

It is time to put a little reality into the discussions about nuclear weapons and missile defense in the wake of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, signed April 8 by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Full Article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...0041904602.html


http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/for...p;#entry1101457

Playing the Nuclear Game: Pakistan and the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty Mian and A.H. Nayyar, Arms Control Association

Playing the Nuclear Game: Pakistan and the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty Mian and A.H. Nayyar, Arms Control Association

Since May 2009, Pakistan, largely alone, has blocked the start of international talks on a fissile material cutoff treaty (FMCT) at the 65-member Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva. The treaty would ban the production of fissile materials for weapons purposes; fissile materials, namely plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU), are the key ingredients in nuclear weapons. Pakistan has prevented these negotiations despite having accepted last year a CD program of work that included an FMCT.
Full Article

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=80001&st=1420#entry1101455



http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2010_04/Mian

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

It May Be Too Late To Stop Iran Getting Nuclear Bomb, Says Former US Defence Official -- Times Online

It May Be Too Late To Stop Iran Getting Nuclear Bomb, Says Former US Defence Official -- Times Online

It may be too late to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon, a former senior US defence official has warned.

The official, who has long experience with several US administrations, said President Obama had waited too long to take tough action against Tehran.

"Fifteen months into his administration, Iran has faced no significant consequences for continuing with its uranium-enrichment programme, despite two deadlines set by Obama, which came and went without anything happening," the former official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Times. "Now it may be too late to stop Iran from becoming nuclear-capable."

Read more ....
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7102264.ece

Update: Intel Source Speaks on Iranian Nukes -- FOX News
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/04/18/intel-source-speaks-on-iranian-nukes/?test=latestnews


What a difference between the European press and the U.S. press when it comes to covering Iran and it's nuclear program. The European press is under no illusions on the threat that Iran poses, while the U.S. administration is looking for a diplomatic solution to a situation in whcih the Iranians have no interest in accommodating.

U.S. Missile Defenses Are Not Constrained By The Arms Treaty Arms Treaty Shouldn't Constrain U.S. Missile Defenses -- Washington Post

U.S. Missile Defenses Are Not Constrained By The Arms Treaty Arms Treaty Shouldn't Constrain U.S. Missile Defenses -- Washington Post

It is time to put a little reality into the discussions about nuclear weapons and missile defense in the wake of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, signed April 8 by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Republicans immediately raised questions about whether the treaty could "constrain improvements to U.S. missile defenses, if objected to by the Russians," as Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain, both of Arizona, put it the day the pact was signed. Last week, at a hearing of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, Rep. Michael R. Turner (R-Ohio) mentioned his concern that the United States will be "self-constrained" by the treaty.

Read more ....

A very good analysis and review on where we are on missile defense, and how the new arms agreement will impact it (or not).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/19/AR2010041904602.html

Saudi Arabia Announces Nuclear Plant, And It Could Have Huge Consequences For U.S.-Iran Relations

Saudi Arabia Announces Nuclear Plant, And It Could Have Huge Consequences For U.S.-Iran Relations from Business Insider by Gregory White

The government of Saudi Arabia has announced a new section of its capital Riyadh is set to be powered solely by nuclear energy. This will be the first nuclear power plant in the Gulf states, and the first in the broader Middle East.

If the U.S. government backs Saudi Arabia's bid to build a reactor, they'll be creating the potential for nuclear growth within the GCC, or Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman.

All of those states are also reviewing the possibility of producing nuclear fuel, so they can export more oil and gas to foreign markets.

The GCC is largely allied with the United States and their key security issue is Iran's rise in power across the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. must be concerned that by allowing oil-rich ally Saudi Arabia to invest in nuclear technology, it will be further escalating its conflict with Iran.

The talk of a double standard in terms of peaceful nuclear energy in the Middle East will have further credence if the U.S. allows a Gulf state to make the move to nuclear.

The main issue is the non-proliferation treaty. While Gulf states would likely be willing to join, protected by the massive U.S. arsenal, Iran has serious security concerns and is pushing for Israel, which has its own semi-secret nuclear deterrent, to sign up before it does.

Peaceful nuclear power could be the straw that breaks the region's geopolitical back.

http://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabi...t=Google+Reader

Americans want more nuclear plants, jobs

Nuclear power getting strong support from nearby communities
Communities near nuclear power facilities are among the energy source's strongest supporters, according to University of Missouri professor William H. Miller in this opinion article. This comes as nuclear plant neighbors understand the economic value the construction of a reactor brings, a Nuclear Energy Institute study says. Support is also attributed to nuclear power's potential to generate high-paying, high-technology jobs. Springfield News-Leader (Mo.)

Curtiss-Wright awarded $11M contract

Curtiss-Wright lands deal for Savannah River site
Curtiss-Wright announced Monday that it has secured contracts worth $11 million for cleanup activities at the Department of Energy's Savannah River site in South Carolina. The contract with Savannah River Remediation includes equipment for processing and remediation at the former nuclear facility. Bloomberg BusinessWeek/The Associated Press

Safe, secure nuclear energy must be part of climate change solution

U.S. needs nuclear to meet rising energy needs, climate goals
Safe, clean nuclear power should be a part of the solution to the country's energy needs, which are expected to surge by 23% by 2030, according to Paul Dickerson and Adam Grosser in this column. According to a recent analysis by the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. needs to double its nuclear energy output by 2030 to keep utility costs down and meet the emissions goals in the U.S. House-passed climate bill, Dickerson and Grosser write. The Seattle Times

EDF: South Africa is prepared to embrace more nuclear energy

EDF: South Africa is prepared to embrace more nuclear energy
South Africa is prepared to take on more nuclear energy, France's EDF said during an energy workshop in Johannesburg. Among the factors that show the country is ready include its "political willingness" and the public's awareness of climate-change issues, EDF executive Frederic Diore said. The Times (Johannesburg)/South African Pres Association

Westinghouse is a potential bidder for Poland's first nuclear plant

Westinghouse is a potential bidder for Poland's first nuclear plant
Westinghouse Electric has become the third candidate for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland, along with France's EDF and GE Hitachi. The company is finalizing discussions with Polska Grupa Energetyczna on a working group to study a possible joint venture for the facility, according to a media report. Warsaw Business Journal (Poland)

George F. Will This Nuclear Option Is Nuclear The costs of fads and superstition.

George F. Will
This Nuclear Option Is Nuclear

The costs of fads and superstition.

Nuclear power generates 20% of America's electricity and 69% of its carbon-free energy, yet no nuclear reactors have been built in the country for 30 years, writes columnist George Will for Newsweek. Instead, the government has wasted resources in developing inefficient energy sources like wind and solar power while national demand for electricity increases, he writes. "It is a travesty that the nation that first harnessed nuclear energy has neglected it so long because of fads about supposed 'green energy' and superstitions about nuclear power's dangers," he argues. Newsweek

France, Kuwait sign nuclear energy agreement

France forges nuclear-cooperation deal with Kuwait
France and Kuwait signed an agreement "to develop the peaceful use of nuclear energy." The pact will pave the way for cooperation "in several areas of nuclear energy" including power production, a French government statement said. Google/Agence France-Presse

Saudis to build nuclear, renewable energy centre

Saudi Arabia eyes construction of nuclear energy center
Saudi Arabia seeks to build a center for nuclear and alternative-energy technologies in Riyadh. The center would handle research and development of projects in nuclear and alternative energy as part of the kingdom's efforts to expand its power generation beyond fossil fuels. Google/Agence France-Presse

Monday, April 19, 2010

Terrorism: The Nuclear Summit's 'Straw Man' by Shibil Siddiqi

Terrorism: The Nuclear Summit's 'Straw Man' by Shibil Siddiqi
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LD16Ak02.html

Iran to Talk With All Security Council Members on Nuclear Deal

Iran to Talk With All Security Council Members on Nuclear Deal

Gates Memo Sought ‘Military Options’ Against Iran


Gates Memo Sought ‘Military Options’ Against Iran
Secretary Insists Classified Memo Taken Out of Context

SPENGLER How radical Islam might defeat the West: A reprise

SPENGLER
How radical Islam might defeat the West: A reprise
Iran has succeeded in horrifying the supine West into submission to its nuclear ambitions, as the specter of military confrontation is too terrible for the US and it allies to bear. This sort of paralysis is what radical Islam reckoned with from the outset. Don't say you haven't been warned. (Apr 19, '10)
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LD20Ak01.html